Asia-Europe Cultural Festival: 2022 | Public Forum: What Future for Arts Festivals?

A public forum on the current status of arts festivals with 5 distinct speakers from Asia and Europe.

Public Forum (duration: 1h30m)

Sunday, 27 November 2022

Centre for Fine Arts - Bozar, Studio Hall

Brussels, Belgium

Arts festivals have energised communities since time immemorial. Rooted in rituals, stories and faiths, they have embodied local and indigenous cultures and celebrated deep bonds with nature, land and the seasons. Whatever their focus, arts festivals celebrate what is the most important to human experience – the ability to come together and witness artistic expression, the finest quality of human culture.

In the context of Asia and Europe, festivals have been a powerful force in encouraging international artistic endeavours, showcasing cross-border cultural expressions, and fostering creative dialogues. Yet today arts festivals stand at a crossroad. In a post-pandemic world, they are faced with unprecedented social and economic challenges. What is the future of arts festivals as we look ahead?

This panel discussion brings together 5 leading figures from the arts sector – including festival directors, artists, producers from Asia and Europe to deliberate upon the future of their work and the field of arts, at large. A discussion on the current status of arts festivals given the impact of the pandemic, how newer trends such as slow mobility influence the model of arts festivals, how can festivals address the need for deeper cultural exchange and what arts festivals would look like in the future.

Moderator
	Siddarth CHADHA Lecturer Uppsala University, Sweden Department of Informatics and Media (Sweden/India)

Speakers
	Natalie HENNEDIGE Director Singapore International Festival of the Arts (Singapore)	Roberto CASAROTTO Co-Director Aerowaves (Italy)

	Stéphane NOËL Independent Producer (Switzerland)	Ratri ANINDYAJATI Director Indonesian Dance Festival (Indonesia)